By: Shane Brennan
Liverpool welcomed Rangers FC to Anfield for match day three of group A in The Uefa Champions League, as Liverpool were hoping to bounce back from their frustrating draw with Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday but just what did we learn from the encounter?
Liverpool started like a team that had a point to prove and the first chance wasn’t too long in coming about as Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota combined to set up Darwin Nunez for a strike on goal, but Allan McGregor was equal to the effort, as The Reds turned up the heat on their opponents early on.
Liverpool didn’t have to wait long for the break through however, because when Nunez won a free kick within shooting range Trent Alexander-Arnold took full advantage of the opportunity to get things back on track as he curled a beautiful shot with pace into the back of the net, as Liverpool took a deserved lead on the evening.
The Reds came very close to making it two when Nunez found Salah with a nice pass, Liverpool’s Egyptian King was on a run down the wing before cutting inside to produce an excellent shot, from which McGregor was equal to once again to keep his side in with a fighting chance.
Then it was Jordan Henderson’s turn to turn provider as this time he set up Nunez for another opportunity, Liverpool’s big money forward managed to take the ball down expertly, but once again he could only sting the palms off an inspirational McGregor on the evening.
The chances continued to flow as Liverpool continued to press for the comfort of a second goal, but it wasn’t to arrive just yet however as Luis Diaz and the ever trying Nunez was denied yet again.
Just before the break at Anfield Nunez had yet another decent chance handed to him tanks to good work between Diaz and Diogo Jota but McGregor was to come out on top once again in what was fast becoming the duel of the night, from which Rangers brilliant goal keeper was winning without question this time around.
The second half started in much the same way the first half ended with Liverpool flying forward at every possible opportunity, and once again it didn’t take them long to make the break through when Henderson found Diaz on the wing he led the Rangers defence a merry dance, in turn this led to Leon King conceding a spot kick, from which Salah made no mistake to leave a helpless McGregor on this occasion crestfallen.
Jota should have put Liverpool three goals ahead when the ball deflected to him into his pathway off John Lundstram, as the Portugal international looked certain to score, but McGregor pulled off a simply world class save to keep Rangers in with a slim chance of getting a point.
Rangers very nearly did find a route back into the game through Rabbi Matondo finding lots of space on the wing, as he managed to deliver a low dangerous cross into the Liverpool box as Fashion Sakala Junior looked odds on to score, Kostas Tsimikas rowed to Liverpool’s rescue producing a marvellous clearance to preserve a clean sheet and with it secure a two goal victory on a comfortable night at Anfield.
Stand out performances
Trent Alexander-Arnold – He answered his critics extremely well scoring a mighty goal to go along with it and he didn’t put a foot wrong all night.
Darwin Nunez – he played really well, he came up against a brilliant goalkeeping performance, the goals will surly start flowing eventually.
Conclusion: It wasn’t a bad performance overall, it’s a win and a clean sheet and that will bring some confidence to a side that is struggling to find it at the moment. Liverpool will need to up it a level once again for the crucial crunch Premier League games ahead.
